Page 2 of One Reckless Moment

We were in the stables, grooming the horses like we always did together before nighttime chores. In a moment of misplaced confidence, I rose up on my toes and brushed my lips against his. My delusional brain actually assumed he’d kiss me back. In my head, it was the perfect scene—a classic friends-to-lovers romance. I was horrified when he jerked away the second our lips met. I didn’t even wait for him to say anything; I just took off. I cried into my pillow that night, berating myself for thinking he’d liked me as anything other than an annoying little sister.

He never brought it up, but he did create distance between us. Now, he just mercilessly teased me alongside my brothers. Constant barbs and cold shoulders.

No warmth or jokes. No charming smiles. Continuous tension and fights. It was a fun little game we played to see who could get further under whose skin.

“Nice of you to grace us with your presence.” I rolled my eyes.

“Aw, Pip, did you miss me?” He winked at me.

“Don’t call me that,” I spat out through gritted teeth.

I detested that nickname, and he was well aware. Cash began calling me Pipsqueak when he first moved here as a term of endearment. He would say I was too small and weak to help them. There was a time I loved when he would use the name, since it was something special we shared. But, he burned that connection to the ground.

Now he used the name to piss me off.

And it worked every single time.

Cash smirked at me as he turned to his date and started assaulting her mouth, making a show of their tangled tongues. It was grotesque, classless. He was such a manwhore, it was nauseating to witness. I stood abruptly, my chair screeching against the wood floors, and stormed over to the bar. I had no interest in indulging in voyeurism and I needed stronger alcohol if this was going to happen the rest of the night.

I leaned over the bartop and ordered a round of tequila shots for my siblings as Lottie sidled up next to me.

“Don’t even say it,” I barked out, not daring to look at her. There was sure to be pity in her eyes.

Lottie raised her hands in defense. “I wasn’t going to say anything.”

“Mm-hmm,” I mumbled.

Lottie placed her hands on the bar, drumming her fingers and tapping her leg as if keeping her thoughts to herself was painfully difficult.

“I just mean,” she burst out, “why do you let him get to you? He teases because you react.”

“He’s an asshole. How am I not supposed to react?”

“If you ignore him, then he’ll get bored and move on.” She shrugged.

I knew she was right, but something about Cash just got to me. Ignoring his comments seemed impossible.

I exhaled and decided I was going to make the mature decision to handle this like an adult. I turned to my sister with a devious smile and asked, “So, how do we start a fight between him and his date?”

Lottie snorted as the tray of shots were placed in front of us. “The best payback would be to show him you’re unaffected.”

“No,” I corrected. “The best payback would be a great cockblock.”

Lottie turned to head back to our waiting siblings. “Go find a hot cowboy to dance with. Have some fun and forget about the hotheaded asshole,” she called over her shoulder.

I nodded and grabbed the tray before we walked back toward the table. That was actually the perfect plan.

I turned to face the band and raised my hands over my head, dancing in my own little world. The music wafted over my body in waves as I closed my eyes. I perked up when a pair of strong hands found my waist. The liquor was flowing, and for once I was ready to take a hot man home to let him have his way with me. A girl deserved a little fun every now and then, right?

I smiled up at the man behind me. He was not terrible to look at, with soft brown eyes and a sharp jawline. He would definitely fit the part of one-night stand cowboy. Taking his wink as a cue that he was interested, I turned in his arms and looped mine around his neck. Leaning up on my toes, I placed a kiss on the corner of his mouth.

It was my favorite move. Forward but not aggressive. A little tease to feel out the vibe before fully committing.

My cowboy growled quietly, pulling me into his chest and crashing his mouth into mine.

The kiss was nice, but there were no sparks. His tongue was a little too wet—which sounds incorrect, but I swear it was a thing—and his nose kept getting in the way. Normally, those things would turn me off but, tonight I didn’t want sparks or chemistry. I wanted an orgasm or two and to send him on his merry way. He reached above his head and palmed his hat before lifting it and swiftly placing it right on my head.

Heat was burning a hole in my cheek. I knew Cash’s attention was on me. I knew I was going to hear about this.